Harbor

A harbor (harbour in British English) or haven is a protected body of water that is sufficiently deep to provide ships with shelter from the weather and to store the vessels. Harbors can be natural or artificial. A natural harbor is surrounded on most sides by land, resulting in calmer waves inside the harbor. An artificial harbor usually has sea walls or breakwaters and may require dredging.

A port is often built in a harbor, but every harbor does not have a port. A port is a man-made coastal or riverine facility where boats and ships can load and unload passengers and cargo. It may consist of quays, wharfs, jetties, piers, and slipways with cranes or ramps. A port may also have magazine buildings or warehouses for the storage of goods and a transport system, such as railway, road transport, or pipeline transport facilities for relaying goods inland.

Natural harbors

A natural harbor is a landform where a part of a body of water is protected and deep enough to furnish anchorage. Natural harbors have long been of great strategic and economic importance. Many of the great cities of the world are located on a natural harbor. Having a naturally protected harbor reduces or eliminates the construction of breakwaters.

Temporary harbors

St. John's harbour in Newfoundland, Canada.

Sometimes a harbor is needed where one is not available because of damage, as in times of war. In such a case, a temporary harbor may be built and transported in segments to the required location. The most notable of these were the two Mulberry harbors used during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in World War II.

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